COVID-19 PANDEMIC UPDATES

Plasma donor centre

Opening spring 2021

Register to the e-newsletter and be among the first to donate.

Who can donate?

Any healthy person who meets our eligibility criteria can donate plasma as frequently as every two weeks.

To become a plasma donor, having a history of making regular blood donations helps, but is not always necessary.

Plasma donors must:

Weight over 50 kg (110 lb.)

In general good health

17 years and older

Where can I donate?

Our new Kelowna donor center will be opening Spring 2021.

What’s it like to donate plasma?

The process for donating plasma is similar to donating blood. The main difference between a whole blood and plasma donation is the collection method—apheresis. Only the plasma portion of your blood is collected; the rest (red cells, white cells and platelets) is returned to you.

How to book an appointment?

Call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

Plasma appointment are not available at this time. Register to receive our newsletter and be among the first to donate plasma.

Why should I consider donating plasma?

Becoming a plasma donor can make a lifesaving difference to patients across Canada, who depend on treatments made from donated plasma. These medicines help treat a variety of rare, life-threatening, chronic and genetic conditions.

Why do we need more donated plasma in Canada?

As part of our role, Canadian Blood Services is responsible for monitoring the amount of human plasma available to meet the needs of patients in Canada. For some time, we have been seeing a steady increase in the use of and demand for plasma-derived products in Canada and around the globe.

By increasing the amount of raw material (source plasma) we collect from donors through our existing infrastructure, as well as making plans to collect more in the future, we are striking the right balance for patients.

“I’m so grateful to all the people who donate plasma to help me live a healthy life.”

Cayleigh was diagnosed with common variable immune deficiency. This makes her highly susceptible to infection. Her story shows the power of plasma-derived therapies to change lives and puts a human face on the rising demand that challenges health systems worldwide.

How do plasma donations work?

Donating plasma is similar to donating blood. Only the plasma portion of your blood is collected; the other components (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) are returned to you. Watch our video to get a firsthand look at the plasma donor experience.

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Canadian Blood Services acknowledges the funding of provincial, territorial and federal governments. The views expressed in this document are those of
Canadian Blood Services and do not necessarily reflect those of governments.